London, 18 December 2017
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO, OR TO ANY PERSON LOCATED OR RESIDENT IN, ANY JURISDICTION WHERE IT IS UNLAWFUL TO RELEASE, PUBLISH OR DISTRIBUTE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT OR THE TENDER OFFER AND CONSENT SOLICITATION MEMORANDUM. IN PARTICULAR, NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO, OR TO ANY PERSON LOCATED OR RESIDENT IN, THE UNITED STATES, ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (THE "UNITED STATES") OR TO ANY U.S. PERSON (AS DEFINED IN REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED).
BGEO announces approval of Consent Solicitation by JSC BGEO Group to Holders of its US$350,000,000 6.00% Notes Due 2023
BGEO Group PLC (the "Group" or "BGEO") announces today that its subsidiary company, JSC BGEO Group, the intermediate holding company of the Group, has announced through the Companies Announcement Service of the Irish Stock Exchange (the "ISE Announcement") that JSC BGEO Group has received approval from Noteholders of its US$350,000,000 6.00% Notes Due 2023 (the "Notes") to substitute JSC Bank of Georgia in place of JSC BGEO Group as the principal debtor under the Notes, and to align the terms and conditions of the Notes with the terms and conditions of the outstanding GEL 500,000,000 11.00% Notes due 2020 issued by JSC Bank of Georgia.
Noteholders holding in aggregate 91.23% of the outstanding notes were present or represented at the meeting, with 99.91% of the votes being cast in favour of the resolution. The substitution is expected to become effective within the next 180 days.
Full details of the approval are provided in the ISE Announcement.
Name of authorised official of issuer responsible for making notification: Giorgi Alpaidze, Group CFO
About BGEO Group PLC
The Group: BGEO Group PLC ("BGEO"- LSE: BGEO LN) is a UK incorporated holding company of a Georgia-focused investment platform. BGEO invests, via its subsidiaries, in the banking and non-banking sectors in Georgia (BGEO and its subsidiaries, together the "Group"). BGEO aims to deliver on its strategy of: (1) at least 20% ROAE from its Banking Business; (2) 15%-20% growth of its Banking Business loan book; (3) at least 25% IRR; and (4) up to 20% of the Group's profit from its Investment Business. On 3 July 2017 BGEO announced its intention to demerge BGEO Group PLC into a London-listed banking business (the "Banking Business") and a London-listed investment business (the "Investment Business") by the end of the first half of 2018.
Banking Business: Currently representing at least 80% of the Group's profit, will comprise: a) retail banking and payment services, b) corporate investment banking and wealth management operations and c) banking operations in Belarus ("BNB"). JSC Bank of Georgia ("BOG" or the "Bank") is the core entity of the Group's Banking Business. The Banking Business will continue to target to benefit from the underpenetrated banking sector in Georgia primarily through its retail banking services.
Investment Business: Currently representing up to 20% of the Group's profit, will comprise the Group's stakes in Georgia Healthcare Group PLC ("Healthcare Business" or "GHG") - an LSE (London Stock Exchange PLC) premium-listed company, Georgia Global Utilities ("Utility and Energy Business" or "GGU"), m2 Real Estate ("Real Estate Business" or "m2"), Teliani Valley ("Beverage Business" or "Teliani") and Aldagi ("Property and Casualty Insurance Business" or Aldagi"). Georgia's fast-growing economy provides opportunities in a number of underdeveloped local markets and the Investment Business will target to capture growth opportunities in the Georgian corporate sector.
JSC BGEO Group has, as of the date hereof, the following credit ratings: |
Bank of Georgia has, as of the date hereof, the following credit ratings: |
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Fitch Ratings |
'BB-/B' |
Fitch Ratings |
'BB-/B' |
Moody's |
B1/NP (FC) & B1/NP (LC) |
Moody's |
'Ba3/NP' (FC) & 'Ba2/NP' (LC) |
For further information, please visit www.bgeo.com or contact:
This news report is presented for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities
